Q: I hear Nissan will introduce a sports car as fast as a $122,900 turbocharged Porsche 911 for about half the price. I love my Nissan 350Z sports car, but it has a rather old design. --E.W., Evanston

A: You've heard about Nissan's wild 2009 GT-R all-wheel-drive coupe, which goes on sale in June. It has a hand-built, twin-turbocharged 480-horsepower engine and hand-polished paint and will cost about $70,000. Its sizzling performance will match that of the Porsche Turbo's, said Eric Anderson, a Nissan North America regional vice president, at a meeting here of the Midwest Automotive Media Association.
The GT-R is the fifth generation of a legendary Nissan sports car. The previous generations never were sold here but have been featured in American video games. The low-production GT-R will have a very high-tech interior that will seat two adults up front and a small back seat for kids. Anderson called the GT-R a "supercar that can be driven by anyone, anytime, anywhere."

Q: Your article on the new Jeep Liberty (Nov. 17 AutoTimes) said it had "square headlights," but they look round in the pictures. Also, doesn't the sliding canvas roof look like it will leak? --T.E, Chicago area

A: I was referring to the Liberty's entire headlight assembly, which has nearly a square shape. (Motor Trend magazine said the new Liberty has "squared-off headlamps.") Only time will tell if that top leaks, although Jeep designed it to prevent leaks and extensively tested it.

Q: The collectible car article on the 1995 Porsche 911 (Oct. 29 AutoTimes) says it did 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds with a manual transmission. The owner's manual for my 1995 Porsche 911 says it has a 0-60 mph times of 5.2 to 5.5 seconds. No big deal, I'm just curious. --D.H., Chicago area

A: German automakers, especially Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, traditionally have understated the performance of their cars in factory documents.

Q: I'm a Loyola University student writing an article about Tesla Motors' 100 percent electric roadster. What's your opinion of that car and are there negative aspects to it? --A.M., Chicago

A: I haven't driven the Tesla car. But, as with any new auto, its sales, service, parts availability, reliability, longevity, warranty coverage and distribution are unproven. Its cost (estimated $85,000-$110,000) and special design spell "small market." Nobody knows its drawbacks because we're dealing with unknown factors. Americans express concern about environmental issues, but a small percentage of vehicles sold are hybrids. Automakers are working on a variety of low- to zero-polluting vehicles, including electrics. And they keep improving today's computer-controlled gasoline engines, with direct fuel injection and such. Also, look for more diesel cars in America. About half the cars in Europe have modern, highly economical diesel engines because of stiff fuel prices.

Q: Where is the worst speed trap in Illinois? --B.T., Chicago

A: It's in Naperville, says the National Motorists Association, which gives "dishonorable mention" to Carol Stream, New Lenox and Peoria. I have no personal knowledge of such "traps." Established in 1982, the association says it advocates "safe and reasonable speed limits set in accordance with traffic engineering standards, not arbitrary political whim."

Q: I own a Honda Accord, but like the styling of the new Chevrolet Malibu (Nov. 19 AutoTimes). But resale value after four or so years is important to Honda owners. Won't time have to prove the Malibu can match Honda for that? --D.T., Elwood

A: Yes, but some domestic cars, such as the Chevy Corvette, long have had high resale values. One problem of domestics is convincing folks they're making a good number of very competitive cars again.

Q: My 1998 Toyota Corolla makes a crunching sound when I apply its brakes after the car starts, although the brake rotors and pads are OK. My mechanic says that sound is normal. Is this something to be concerned about? --R.S., Chicago

A: I assume the car stops OK, but ask for a second opinion from another service facility. Some brake pads make a mild "crunching" sound when you first start out until the brakes are warmed up after a few stops. Some cars temporarily make that sound immediately after you wash them and then stop with wet brakes. Removal of asbestos from brake linings has made pads noisier. If the pads and rotors check out, you might try another type of pad. Ask for quieter pads at auto supply stores, said Larry Claypool, of the 'Vair Shop service facility in Frankfort.

Car question? Send it to Dan Jedlicka, Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans, Chicago 60654, or e-mail djedlicka@suntimes.com. Include name and hometown.